US-Egypt Cooperative Research: Characterization of Conditions Associated with Local and Regional Air Pollution Episodes in Egypt

0108305 Hanna描述：该奖项是为了支持北卡罗来纳州罗利MCNC环境研究经理阿德尔·汉纳博士和埃及开罗开罗大学天文和气象系穆罕默德·沙哈维博士之间的合作项目。 这项研究的目标是提供一个清晰的理解，有助于在埃及的空气污染事件的多重和复杂的过程。他们将追求两个目标：（1）通过分析10年（1990-1999年）的数据来评估秋季（9月、10月、11月）的气象条件，特别强调1999年11月至11月的空气污染事件;（2）描述生物量燃烧在埃及开罗和邻近城市空气污染事件加剧中的作用。在1999年10月的最后一个星期，开罗和沿着尼罗河三角洲以北的城市受到特别严重的空气污染。这一事件引起了人们对尼罗河三角洲和大开罗地区生物质燃烧和其他人为排放源问题的关注。 这项研究将提高我们预测空气污染事件的能力，从而使患有各种健康问题的人能够在高污染时期避免某些活动。范围：该项目支持两名调查人员之间的合作，他们通过培训，经验和对他们将研究的情况的了解都具有出色的资格，以开展这项研究。有了气象数据和排放情景，PI计划使用一个全面的空气质量模型，该模型已应用于北美的许多地理位置。 在埃及的应用将使人们深入了解空气质量模型使用中的任何局限性。 这一点特别重要，因为全球空气质量模型应与区域和地方模型一致。 拟议的活动还应导致空气质量模型的改进，方法是纳入与空气质量模型最初开发时所针对的环境不同的新类型环境，例如生物质燃烧，这可能是空气污染的主要促成因素。这项活动大力支持技术的改造和转让，以保护埃及公民的空气质量和健康，并将提供一个向其他地方推广的进程。 一名美国研究生将参与该项目，并将获得国际科学合作的经验。该提案符合INT的目标，即支持在共同感兴趣的领域进行合作研究，并具有潜在的社会效益。 该项目得到了美国-埃及联合基金方案的支持，该方案向两国的科学家和工程师提供赠款，以开展这些合作活动。

0108305HannaDescription: This award is to support a collaborative project between Dr. Adel Hanna, Manager, Environmental Research at MCNC, Raleigh, North Carolina and Dr. Mohamed El-Shahawy, Astronomy and Meteorology Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. The goal of this research is to provide a clear understanding of the multiple and complex processes that contribute to air pollution episodes in Egypt. They will pursue two objectives: (1) evaluate meteorological conditions during the fall season (September, October, November) by analyzing ten years' worth of data (1990-1999), with special emphasis on the air pollution episode of October-November 1999; and (2) characterize the role of biomass burning in aggravating air pollution episodes over Cairo and adjacent cities in Egypt. During the last week of October 1999 and continuing for a period of two to three weeks, Cairo, and cities to the north along the Nile Delta were exposed to especially high levels of a number of air pollutants. The incident has drawn attention to the problem of biomass burning and other anthropogenic emission sources in the Nile Delta and greater Cairo area. This study will improve our ability to predict air pollution episodes, thus allowing people with various health problems to avoid certain activities during high-pollution periods. It will also improve our understanding of the roles played by emissions, location, terrain, and meteorological conditions in aggravating air pollution conditions.Scope: The project supports collaboration between two investigators, with excellent qualifications both by training, experience and knowledge of the situation they will be studying, to carry out this research. With the meteorological data and the emissions scenario, the PIs plan to use a comprehensive air quality model that has been applied to numerous geographic locations in North America. The application in Egypt will provide insight into any limitations in the use of the air quality model. This is particularly important, as global air quality models should be in agreement with regional and local models. The proposed activity should also lead to improvements in the air quality model by including new types of environments different from those for which the air quality model was initially developed, such as biomass burning, which is likely to be a leading contributor to the air pollution. This activity strongly supports the adaptation and transfer of technology in protecting the air quality and health of the citizens of Egypt, and will provide a process for extension to other locations as well. A US graduate student will participate in this project and will gain experience in international scientific collaboration. The proposal meets INT objectives in supporting collaborative research in areas of mutual interest, and where there are potential societal benefits. This project is being supported under the US-Egypt Joint Fund Program, which provides grants to scientists and engineers in both countries to carry out these cooperative activities.